What is this compact groundcover - nr Vanc BC

Out for a walk in the neighbourhood nr the beach nr Vanc BC

we saw this (see photo)

There is a dandelion on the picture for scale

The leaves are leathery (compared to lettuce ) and smooth and have a scent if one squishes the leaf like hay or grass

This groundcover is blooming now in April 2018

Thank you in advance - this one looks appealing for my current project

 

I am not very familiar with this one, but looks like Polygala chamaebuxus. There are a couple cultivars of that on the market. There are other species of Polygala.

 

yes - I agree

makes sense esp now that I have googled and read the description -

the flowers were definitely "pea like" (as in pea flowers) ...

here's a good description from a plant nursery in the UK
https://www.amazon.co.uk/9cm-Pot-Shrub-Chamaebuxus-Grandiflora/dp/B00F43DZN2

it is very pretty plant
this one is in a street-side rockery that is extremely hot and dry in the summer - south facing and near the ocean beach.

EDIT to add -- I note the latin name includes "buxus" - it's not related is it to boxwood? or is it just because the leaves on this ground cover do look like boxwood (same size, shape, leathery texture)

 

You are correct. Polygala is not closely related to Buxus. The leaves of this species was just thought to look like Buxus.
"Specific epithet comes from the Greek words chamai meaning on the ground and buxus meaning the boxwood genus in reference to the boxwood-like leaves of this spreading, shrubby ground-cover."